Although cited by The British Museum as "..Found 1784 in a bog near Meol Hebog while cutting peat" I'm pretty certain from other sources [e.g Grahame Clarke's 1940-published 'Prehistoric England (sic!)] that this magnificent shield was found upon Moel Siabod. Coflein quotes the findspot at SH71005520... putting it at the head of the excellent ridge Daear Ddu, overlooking the natural lake Llyn y Foel. Can there be a more appropriate location? It is tempting to think it belonged to whoever was laid to rest (in whatever form) within the nearby cairn.

Local community information website including Historic Scotland description of Dounie Hillfort, (Scheduled Monument 11942) which can be reached by a waymarked walk from the A836.

Note that RCAHMS do not share the view that the masonry to be found here was defensive in nature... "The location and character of both the wall and the bank-and-ditch suggest that they were used for the control of stock." (JRS, GFG, IP, AM) 17/9/2013.

My suggestion is for people to climb the hill, enjoy the fabulous views across Dornoch Firth... and make up their own minds. I share some reservations owing to the paucity of visible defences to the east, but on balance I would say the western dry stone wall and associated bank and ditch are arguably too substantial for mere stock control?

The northern environs of Garn Boduan's upper fort - the equivalent of a medieval keep, if you like - are occupied by a large stone pile which Heneb interpret as a massive, disturbed Bronze Age cairn. Probably unopened, thanks to the protective Iron Age works superimposed.

Once again we have clear evidence of Iron Age peoples incorporating an earlier funerary monument within their planning regardless of the obvious spacial impact. The assumption must be that they viewed these monuments as being highly important.

To be fair a lot of websites designed to draw in punters (that I've seen) are not that helpful to the average member (or perceptive visitor) to TMA. Not saying TMA folk are more intelligent; rather that we perhaps use what we have to a greater degree. The brain requires exercise, after all.

So rather pleasantly surprised that this DIY effort is refreshingly informative. If you are lucky enough to be blessed with children... this is truly an ideal site to fire the young psyche. Can there be a more precious gift a parent can bestow? Mine was. Eternal thanks to my father - now an old man - for taking his son here back in the early 80's and freaking out that mind full of swirling hormones. This is a place of legend, of life, death and every state in-between! And ... if you aren't a parent .... join the club.... I'd wager no other castle in these Isles offers quite what is available here for the curious independent visitor.

Hey, the Llewleyns (the farm - and castle owners) even organise weddings. What better way for two people deeply in love to cement their commitment to each other than by venturing to the well at the terminus of the cave. Searing emotion with no hiding place. Jeez. What a dream. Photos here would impress Gladman no end, believe me. Having sat with my hand in the pool of water perculating down from the roof in utter darkness... my heart pounding like the drum machine from Blue Monday... I can well understand our ancestors (apparent) connection with this crazy, spinning globe. There is an awful lot we can learn from the past.

Official website detailing periods when you most certainly do not want to be upon the mountain. Might save a wasted trip. Although why the army 'have' to practice here I do not know. I thought places such as this were what we fought world wars to protect...

Since Flower's Barrow is located upon a live Army firing range access is restricted.... for obvious reasons. In order to prevent a wasted journey I'd therefore advise checking this link before attempting a visit. As Mike notes, bunking into this one is NOT an option unless you have a severe death wish.

Hi, I'm Robert ... aka Citizen Cairn'd. I've a passion for attempting to understand the lives of the pioneering prehistoric inhabitants of these British Isles, seeking out the remains they left behind in order to ask myself "why here ... why did it matter so... why such commitment?". Needless to say I'm still pondering such intangibles. Just as an empty house appears to retain echoes of past humanity... so does the stone circle, the chambered cairn, the long barrow and the mountain top funerary cairn. Visiting them, I think, helps engender a certain 'connection' with this land of ours, with ourselves - our past, our present and our future; a reference point for those of us perhaps struggling to make sense of this so-called 'computer world' Kraftwerk warned us was a'coming in 1981.... danke, mein herren.

George Orwell - '...during times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act'....

Martin Gore - 'Like a pawn
On the eternal board
Who’s never quite sure
What he’s moved towards
I walk blindly on'...

Truman Capote - 'Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavour.'

Oscar Wilde - 'The true mystery of the world is the visible, not the invisible.'

John Lydon - 'It is a reward to be chastised by the ignorant.'

Winston Churchill - 'The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter.'

Ultravox - 'Taking shelter by the standing stones
Miles from all that moves
Breathing solitude, seeking confidence
A gift to me
Feeling spirits never far removed
Passing over me
And I greet them with open arms'